Most people aren't doctors, epidemiologists, or scientists of any sort. Nobody can be experts at everything, so we rely on expert authorities to break things down for us. Since we're not experts ourselves, we cannot independently verify what the experts are saying, which means our relationship with them is built on trust. But what happens when a nation becomes so fiercely divided along political lines that we collectively stop trusting expert authorities?
What's more, people don't like being told they're wrong. They especially don't like being talked down to. When experts (and more importantly, those arguing on social media on behalf of those experts) use demeaning language to address critics and people with concerns, the people don't respond well. Some of them will begrudgingly admit they were wrong, but humans are not purely logical creatures. Many will write off those who talk down to them as malicious or corrupt and use that as justification to disregard what they say.
We all need to start showing more respect to one another. Be patient and compassionate when dealing with people who are currently opposed to getting vaccinated - even if they don't show you the same courtesy. It wont earn you fake internet points and you're certainly not guaranteed to convince them of anything, but you'll never reach them doing anything else.
We don't like talking politics here on HN, but we can't hide from the truth: It's not an issue of respect or political polarization. It's the right-wing political movement which has an extreme ideology of reactionaryism. No matter what the issue or situation, they will be against it.
Talking more respectfully to them won't change it. It's not possible to talk to them, because most public communication is filtered through reactionary propaganda. For example, President Biden is generally respectful, but cannot reach them.
If we don't deal with this movement now, it will continue to grow stronger. Clearly there are no limits to it: Vaccination and masks to prevent a pandemic disease, attempts to overturn an election and seize power, etc.
Doesn't it feel a little too convenient to label your opposition as "beyond saving"? And how do you propose we "deal with this movement now" if you've convinced yourself they can't be reasoned with? I know it's not true from first hand experience. I've convinced a dozen people with hard-right political ideologies to get the vaccine. It hasn't always worked, but I've had much more success than not.
Respect is difficult, but it works. And you'll never be able to justifiably expect others to respect you if you don't respect them first. Be the change you want to see.
Also, one person being respectful is not enough to change things at scale - especially someone in as naturally divisive a position as POTUS.
I didn't label them as "beyond saving", etc. I'm not saying to be disrespectful. I'm saying that the problem isn't respect, it's the ideology of the political movement to reject masks, the vaccine, and everything else - there was no chance they would accept it; they are extreme reactionaries. Try to imagine a scenario where the government announced masks and a vaccine, and they all got in line. Respect is only a justification, a rhetorical technique they've used for a long time - adopt the position of a victim (and in fact, I don't see people being particularly disrespectful).
> naturally divisive a position as POTUS
It's not "naturally divisive"; that's only an issue of the reactionary political movement. Presidents have been uniting the country for generations. Biden is not divisive; Obama was not divisive; Trump and the reactionaries are.
> Doesn't it feel a little too convenient to label your opposition as "beyond saving"? And how do you propose we "deal with this movement now"
It's not convenient for me; it's more convenient to keep my head buried while the movement and the problem, which I agree is very difficult, grows worse. People don't want to face the catastrophe; neither do I.
It can't be more obvious; all the warning lights are blinking red. We have a responsibility to our ancestors, who faced catastrophes and built a society for us, and to our decedents, to face the problem and the hardship.
What if it's true and those top bullshitters (not all) are indeed lying all the time? Why would any decent human being excuse that or fail to call it out?
What's more, people don't like being told they're wrong. They especially don't like being talked down to. When experts (and more importantly, those arguing on social media on behalf of those experts) use demeaning language to address critics and people with concerns, the people don't respond well. Some of them will begrudgingly admit they were wrong, but humans are not purely logical creatures. Many will write off those who talk down to them as malicious or corrupt and use that as justification to disregard what they say.
We all need to start showing more respect to one another. Be patient and compassionate when dealing with people who are currently opposed to getting vaccinated - even if they don't show you the same courtesy. It wont earn you fake internet points and you're certainly not guaranteed to convince them of anything, but you'll never reach them doing anything else.